Washington, D.C. (August 10, 2021) — Edison Electric Institute (EEI) President Tom Kuhn today issued the following statement:

"On behalf of America's investor-owned electric companies, EEI applauds the Senate for passing a broad, bipartisan infrastructure bill that would make significant investments in the critical energy infrastructure and new carbon-free technologies we need to deliver a 100-percent clean energy future to the customers and communities we serve.

“Achieving this will require new, affordable, 24/7, carbon-free technologies, and this legislation significantly would boost research, development, demonstration, and deployment funding for these new clean energy technologies. 

“This legislation also would provide a good down payment on the electric vehicle charging infrastructure and low/no-emission buses that we need to accelerate the electrification of the transportation sector, which currently is the largest source of carbon emissions in the U.S. economy. 

“The pandemic has highlighted the nation’s digital divide and the critical importance of high-speed internet to our society. This legislation would create new opportunities for electric companies to leverage their fiber investments to provide middle-mile broadband infrastructure, in partnership with telecommunications companies and last-mile internet providers. This is a win for all stakeholders, particularly customers and communities in underserved and unserved areas.

“EEI’s member companies are working to get the energy we provide as clean as we can as fast as we can, while maintaining the reliability and affordability that our customers value. We look forward to working with both the House and the Senate to develop a final bill to send to the President’s desk that supports the transition to a carbon-free economy.”